Sahara City

A rather lengthy period of time later… and Wang Jin finally arrived at Sahara City.

The trip here was much more troublesome than it needed to be. All manner of misfortune and unluckiness had befallen the lone traveler that was Wang Jin.

After making his way through to Tthur via portal, he had to endure more than ten hours worth of travel on a camel. And it didn't help that the camel was feeling particularly mischievous the whole trip, choosing to wake Wang Jin up whenever he dozed off by shaking its body abruptly.

There were multiple times when he had simply fallen off the camel even without being played by it.

But now, those ten whole hours of hell had paid off. The city in front of Wang Jin was quite literally dazzling.

Houses, seemingly made out of sandstone and yet glistening with the radiance of a gem, stood all around the city's residential district. For a city that was located in the desert, it had technology outliving its modest appearance.

For one, the presence of floating cars and magical technology was still very much there. The architecture certainly screamed of magic, as everywhere in Midania did. Malls of every kind, from small to large were placed in every street, and even the roads were neatly laid out and enchanted with friction-increasing runes.

Despite being situated in the desert, plants and fauna of all types were present in the vicinity. The grass was greener than even the greenlands in some places, and fountains that spewed water from the mouths of artistic designs were aplenty.

He could feel the difference in the air the moment he stepped foot in the city's vicinity.

"You're new here, no?"

Suddenly, Wang Jin heard a voice behind him. It belonged to a rather tall, dark-skinned burly man. He wore the typical clothes a Sahara City inhabitant would wear, consisting of a desert robe that covered the entire body from head to toe.

"Whoa, how'd you know?" Wang Jin asked in surprise.

"It comes with the job, my friend. I've been working as a camel transporter for the last few decades, and seen my fair share of tourists. Plus, who wouldn't recognize you as someone not from here, especially with tthat getup?"

Wang Jin's attention went to the clothes he had put on. A black shirt, black pants, and black shoes. They made him stick out like a sore thumb in a place when people wore more loosely fit apparel.

"I'm Juancito. Might I take your camel?"

"Oh, sure! He's been a real douche to me the whole trip. I wonder if he was born this way, like an idiot."

"Haha, it is said an animal takes after ita caretaker, my friend. Here." Juancito threw a small card to Wang Jin, who caught it.

"What's this?"

"A little something to keep. Whenever you want to retrieve your friend here, just present your card, and I will bring him out. Do enjoy your stay at Sahara City!"

***

"Hello, citizen. Do you need any assistance?"

A guard asked as Wang Jin approached sheepishly. The latter had underestimated the sheer size of Sahara City. The seemingly infinite number of steps and stairs were scattered across the multiple districts, making it seem like he was climbing a pyramid.

He counted… ten, twelve, fifteen times that he went up and down the stairs, but each time he had somehow managed to return to the same place he started, even when picking different routes!

"Yeah… this place is kinda confusing. Do you guys have a map or something?" Wang Jin explained.

"Oh, that's a common problem tourists seem to have when they first enter the city. Don't worry, you're not the only one. Here's a map, I hope it helps you."

The guard pulled out a small piece of paper, and handed it to Wang Jin. Opening it up, he was finally able to get a sense of where he was.

The map perfectly highlighted every single corner of Sahara City, from the alleyways to the main roads, from the multiple residential districts to the shopping districts, and even from the smallest od shops all the way to the biggest malls.

There wasn't one detail that the map neglected to include, and that made Wang Jin all the more happier.

Thankfully, his capability to read maps wasn't nearly as bad as his capability in finding his way through areas.

"Alright… so I think I'm supposed to look for some kind of abandoned tunnel… but I've got no clue where to start." Wang Jin furrowed his brows.

"No plan for now… so let's just sit in the sand!"

Placing his hand on the sand, Wang Jin was surprised to find out that it was cool to the touch. Each grain felt like it had been run through a cooler.

"I've heard a lot about this sand. It really is cold, whoa."

"Amazing, isn't it? This whole city is the product of King Rheo's grace. It is thanks to him that we are able to experience our current lifestyles."

"What is up with people sneaking up behind me!? That's the second time today." Wang Jin thought.

"My apologies for scaring you. I couldn't help but notice how surprised you were to feel the sand. Everyone has the same reaction when they first feel it."

The man was young, had hair that was colored a slightly fiery crimson, with gray streaks that ran across his edges. He looked reasonably fit for his age, almost as if he was someone who had been training his whole life.

"King Rheo… where have I heard that name… ah!" Wang Jin gasped.

"That's right. He is the the fourth strongest S rank in the world, and the person said to have created Sahara City from the ground up, literally."

"Who are you?" He continued.

"I'm Wang Jin. What about you, mister?"

"I am Maher, the vice captain of The Guardians of this city. Welcome to Sahara City, Wang Jin. I can tell this is your first time here."

"It… is. Do all the people who live here have a sense for tourists, or am I just that obvious, bruh?"

"It's definitely the latter, hah. Anyway, what did you come to this city for? Was it perhaps to visit? Maybe ask for the king's counsel?"

"Nah, none of that. I'm here to visit a friend."

In Wang Jin's eyes, the man in front of him was suspicious. Of course, not any more than him. It was just that he found it difficult to believe that someone that young could become the vice captain of this city's protectors.

"I know that look. You think I don't deserve my title? I assure you, while I might not like the responsibility that comes with it, the leader of the guardians himself personally recommended me to the position. I'm only 18."

Wang Jin was surprised. Maher was the same age as him, and yet he was very clearly the stronger of the two.

"Oh, I didn't go that far…"

"That's okay, my apologies as well. Anyway, Wang Jin, was it? How about we go for a short tour? I'm sure you're hungry after your trip." Maher suggested.

"Actually… I am! Know of any good restaurants around here?"

"Definitely! Right down the block, there's this cool…"

It was like looking at two sides of the same mirror. Maher was Wang Jin, if he was perhaps more smarter.